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(N0 MOd THILL COUPLING.

No. 368,505. Patented Aug 16, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN SEARL AVERY, OF DALLAS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO 0. D. HONEYWELL, OF SAME PLACE. Y

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,505, dated August 16, 1887. 7

Application filed March 3, 1887. Serial No. 229,517. (No model.)

, lings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in clips or couplings to attach the thill or tongues to vehicles or conveyances by which they are guided.

The object of my invention is the production of a clip or coupling that shall be not only cheap in construction, durable, and easily changed, but afford ample security against accident, such as disconnection or breakage.

My invention consists in a short bar, which can be attached to the axle ofa carriage in the ordinary manner by loop-bolts, either on the top or underneath, as may be most convenient, having jaws formed upon a projecting end opposite to each other, and extending above and below the projecting end of the bar. Between the jaws, above the bar, is secured the knuckle of the thill-iron by short fixed pins, which project from the sides of the knuckle into holes formed in theabovenamed jaws. The upperhalves of these holes are cut away or opened out and the place supplied by blocks formed on the inside of pieces working in gains cut in the external sides of and pivoted to the lower end of thejaws. These movable pieces and blocks are held securely in position by springs and extend below the pivot in the lower end of the jaws, to afford sufficient leverage to open out these side pieces and blocks over the pins in the knuckle, to allow of the removal or the introduction of the knuckle with its fixed projecting pins through the open space in the upper end of the jaws occupied by the movable blocks. Between the knuckle and thejaw I introduce aspring, either of steel or other elastic substance,which presses the fixed pins which hold the thilliron in the jaws firmly against one side of the holes to prevent vibration or noise. By this construction there is no probability of derangement by the loss of nuts or bolts, as in the ordinary construction That my invention may be the better understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved coupling; Fig. 2, aplau View; Fig. 3, a section through the line22 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a detail of one of thejaws.

Like figures or letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

1 indicates the short bar, which is securely attached to the axle; 2 and 2, thejaws formed on each side of the bar 1; 3, the knuckle of the thill-iron; 4and4,thefixed pinsin theknuckle; 5 and 5, the movable block formed in con nection with the side pieces, 6 and 6; 7, the extension ofthe movable pieces 6 and 6, for operating them; 8, the gains cut in the outsides of the jaws, in which the movable side pieces are placed, and secured by the pivotpin 9; 10, the springs which hold the movable side pieces and blocks in position, and 11 the spring to prevent the vibration and noise occasioned by wear of the pins.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a thi1l-coupling, the combination of the bar 1, thejaws 2 and 2, formed on. the bar projecting above and below with the pivotholes opened out at the top, the knuckle 3,

with its fixed pins 4 and 4, the blocks 5 and" 5, formed on the movable side pieces, '6 and 6, with the extension 7 and 7, pivoted to-the jaws 2 and 2 by the pins 9, the springs 10, which hold the movable side pieces in position, and the spring 11, to prevent vibration and noise, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In a thill or shaft coupling, the combina tion, with a bar, 1, having jaws 2 2, of the movable side pieces, 6 6, having blocks 5 5, the pins 9, and springs 10, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LYMAN SEARL AVERY.

Witnesses:

B. B. GOURTRIGH'I, ROGER MQGARRY. 

